Risks Of Hrt - Menopause

Potential Risks Of Hrt

While there are reasons to use hormone replacement therapy there are also some risks involved that need to be weighed up before a decision is made. While some risks may not pertain to you, some may. It is up to you and your doctor to determine what form of treatment is best for you and your individual situation.

For example if you already have risk factors for a particular disease then this may cause problems when combined with the risk factors associated with HRT and this may prompt you not to try the treatment.

The biggest potential risk factor of HRT is an increased risk of developing breast cancer. While this is still a controversial area, there have been studies done that show that there is a rise in the incidence of breast cancer among women who undergo HRT.

Since the exact causes of cancer are still unknown, you should take into account any other risk factors that you may already have for breast cancer i.e. a family history, smoking, previous bouts of cancer etc. If you find you are low-risk then your doctor may feel that the benefits will outweigh the risks of taking HRT and that you will be safe to try it.

A second risk of undergoing HRT is the possible increased risk of developing uterine cancer. Again, studies are not conclusive in this area. The evidence suggests that taking estrogen alone for more than 5 years increases the risk of this form of cancer and so you should discuss this with your doctor to determine if you have other risk factors that would increase your likelihood of developing uterine cancer.

The potential for developing gallbladder disease, including gallstones, is also increased when taking HRT. This seems to apply only to ingested forms of HRT and so to avoid this risk it may be worth while trying HRT in the form of a patch instead. This form is also easier to control than others and may also prove to have fewer side effects.

Unfortunately there are some side effects associated with HRT and as with any side effects these may range from slight to severe. The side effects are usually directly related to the strength of the HRT and as dosage can take a while to perfect it may take weeks or months for any adverse effects to pass.

As the body is continually changing in the amount of hormones it is producing, finding the best dosage may be a bit like hitting a moving target. Improper dosage may make the original symptoms worse and may add other symptoms that you didn't originally have. Understandably this can be extremely frustrating. For some women the correct dosage is found quickly however you may be one of the unlucky individuals that goes through many doses and types of therapy before finding one that works well for her.

Most doctors now agree that HRT is a temporary treatment. It is most effective when treating severe symptoms that don't respond well to other treatments and so you should try to stay on HRT for no more than a couple of years, and then only as a treatment for the most difficult symptoms. Use the weakest dosage that you can to treat your symptoms, as this will likely lessen the risks slightly and talk to your doctor if your needs change. Together you can decide on a plan that is best for you.